Case Study: Tonnau

Introduction

Tonnau is a pilot project exploring how movement and live music can help reduce isolation and build connection for older adults in rural communities across North Wales. Delivered by Hedyn in communities across Gwynedd and Conwy between July 2025 and August 2026, at its heart a place-based approach to arts and wellbeing, adapting activities in response to the different communities, people and places involved. With a particular focus on people living with dementia and their carers, Tonnau brought dementia-friendly movement sessions and music afternoons into local community spaces, including time to meet, chat and connect. The pilot explored how this approach could respond to local needs and how we can develop our practice to build meaningful connections in rural communities.

The Challenge

Through our existing arts and health work, including dementia-specific sessions, care home projects and work with Carers Trust, we have seen how isolation, transport and limited local provision can affect older adults in rural communities, especially people living with dementia and their carers. Our own family experiences of dementia also shaped our understanding of the need for safe, accessible opportunities to connect. Conversations with health and wellbeing partners reinforced the need for local provision across the large rural areas of Gwynedd and Conwy. We particularly wanted to explore daytime activities, as evenings can create additional barriers, and to offer choice: opportunities to move and participate, or simply enjoy live music, tea and cake and time with others.

The Approach

Tonnau began in July 2025 with research and consultation with our health and wellbeing partners to map existing provision, explore locations, identify gaps and build local connections. The first event took place in December 2025. We delivered 14 music afternoons and 12 movement sessions across six communities: Trawsfynydd, Porthmadog, Llan Ffestiniog, Y Groeslon, Rowen and Abergele. Our team of 9 musicians and 4 dance artists delivered accessible, dementia-friendly activities in local spaces. We considered sensory needs, flexible participation and practical adjustments to create a relaxed, welcoming environment. Each 90-minute session included 30 minutes for tea, cake and conversation. Music afternoons offered optional participation, and movement sessions were adapted to participants' needs, accompanied by live or recorded music. Working with Carers Trust and Gwynedd and Conwy council wellbeing teams, we promoted activities and adapted delivery in response to local feedback. Artists also attended a Dementia Friends awareness session arranged by Conwy Wellbeing. Where possible, we worked with local artists, delivering bilingual sessions and events. We recorded 274 attendances. The final budget was £16,500, including £14,400 from Arts Council Wales.

The Impact

As a pilot, Tonnau explored what works in different rural communities. We evaluated through attendance records, written and informal feedback, artists' observations and team reflection. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants describing sessions as relaxing and uplifting. One participant wrote, “Prynhawn hapus iawn. Codi calon ni gyd” (“A very happy afternoon. It lifted all our spirits”), while others valued opportunities to connect and participate. The project also changed our practice. We found regular movement sessions can build relationships and audiences, creating a foundation for live music and other events. A rotating team of artists offered varied creative experiences and helped communities get to know Hedyn. Different responses across locations reinforced the value of flexible, place-based delivery: building on existing relationships in Llan Ffestiniog, developing accessible seated sessions in Rowen and adapting our approach in Trawsfynydd. Working within communities helped us build trust, understand wider local needs and develop relationships that can support future activity. As a short pilot, we did not seek to measure clinical health outcomes; instead, feedback and learning throughout the project will shape future delivery.

Lessons Learned

Our biggest learning is that building and developing relationships within communities is an ongoing part of the artistic delivery, not simply groundwork completed at the start. Building trust, local knowledge, finding key community contacts and learning about the wider network takes time. The pilot allowed us to explore, listen and adapt, and reinforced that different communities need different approaches. We need to budget realistically for local marketing, engagement work, management costs and artist planning and shared practice.

The Legacy

Tonnau has given us different models shaped by each community, combining movement, music and events. Further sessions have been supported in Rowen, with funding being pursued for Rowen and Llan Ffestiniog. We hope to build on relationships across all six communities. Tonnau Ar y Lôn has emerged from the project, taking music and pop-up dance into rural communities. The project has also generated interest from organisations supporting adults with additional needs and hospital services for older people and those living with dementia.

Website and Social Media Links

Adroddiad Prosiect Tonnau (Cym) : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qmz8jF81FWOOvSxatZTQ1x73hkXCw52w/view?usp=drive_link Tonnau Project Report (Eng): https://drive.google.com/file/d/19XUh_OHZf03ZsFXUkvfDaPEhX54mwQPw/view?usp=drive_link Carers Trust North Wales: https://www.nwcrossroads.org.uk/ https://www.hedyncreadigol.com/

Contact Details

Sarah Mumford Alys Hughes Email: croeso@hedyncreadigol.com

Tags: Older adults, dementia-friendly, wellbeing, social isolation, rural communities, dance, movement, live music, Welsh language, bilingual, Gwynedd and Conwy

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